Winter is coming! Not a quote from popular television series Game of Thrones but more a suggestion that now is a great time to consider improving energy efficiency in your agricultural business in preparation for the colder months.  

You have probably noticed that energy prices have jumped up and according to reports, will continue to do so. These spiralling costs have a detrimental effect on the bottom line of your business and on profitability. There are measures that you can take to control energy consumption on your premises, from reducing waste through to investing in longer term, greener solutions. According to the Carbon Trust, a 20% cut in energy costs can represent the same bottom line benefit as a 5% increase in sales. 

Preventing energy waste

Draughty buildings, poor ventilation and tired, inefficient equipment all play a part in running up costly utility bills. By taking the time to prevent waste and consider investing in energy efficiency measures, which soon pay for themselves, your utility bills will soon reduce in addition to your carbon emissions too.  

Unsurprisingly, taking the agricultural industry as a whole, the largest consumers of energy are lighting, heating. ventilation and refrigeration. Whilst these are necessary components for the day to day running of your business, we look at some of the measures that you can take to keep wasteful energy use to a minimum. 

When not in use, switch it off!

Such an easy, cost saving win and yet an often neglected practice. Leaving Lights left on in a building or machinery on standby rather than switching off when not used is not only wasteful but costs too. Fitting sensors and timers can be helpful in minimising this waste and conserving energy. Make sure that machinery is turned off at the mains at the end of each day. 

Keep on top of servicing and maintenance

Ensure boilers, ventilation systems, refrigeration and dryers are well maintained and that regular service checks are carried out. A serviced boiler can save as much as 10% on your energy bill, reduces downtime and ensures a smooth, efficient operation. Similarly, ventilation systems clogged with dust need additional power to make the motors run which only adds to your energy bill. Older equipment in need of replacing can easily have a quick payback when exchanged with energy efficient models. 

Insulation 

We insulate our homes to minimise heat loss and so it only makes sense to do the same in buildings too. Panels of extruded polystyrene can be fitted to the inside of walls or used as an additional layer between the internal walls and the cladding to keep heat it. Insulating the roof is a good practice too. As we are all aware, heat rises and without insulation, can be responsible for a significant amount of heat escaping. Spray on foam can be used to fill in any gaps and reduce heat loss caused by air leakages. Similarly, heat loss from windows can be minimised by fitting stripping around the frames. Air locks, PVC curtains or motorised doors with automatic opening and closing can prevent heat escaping from doors. 

Damp from leaks in buildings not only causes structural damage but can also be responsible for undesirable cool spots or humidity depending on the purpose of the building. Take the time to carry out regular inspection of your buildings for any tell-tale damp patches and ensure that the necessary repairs are made before they become expensive ones. 

Installing temperature controls helps keep buildings at the correct temperature and avoids over heating which is wasteful. Position thermostats away from doors and windows to avoid unnecessary heating of a building. An error of only 1% can increase your energy bill by as much as 8%.

Thermal screens  

Thermal screen prevents heat loss and are of benefit to horticultural businesses. Available as either fixed or movable screens, they are useful during the colder months to conserve heat in buildings such as greenhouses. Fixed screens line the roof and side walls whilst movable screens can be drawn across at night or other periods of high energy loss. 

Pipe insulation 

Lagging pipes prevents heat loss and freezing during the colder months. Check that the insulation you are using is adequate and providing the necessary protection. Mineral fabric based products, particularly those lined with aluminium foil, provide a greater level of weather protection. 

Ventilation 

Horticultural businesses can lose energy in their greenhouses from air leakage in glass and framework joints, poorly fitted ventilators and doors. Some air exchange can be beneficial to prevent a build-up of humidity and allow for air movement. By ensuring that the ventilation systems are regularly maintained and kept clean and clear can decrease energy bills by over 50%. Ventilation systems fitted with variable speed drives allow the speed output to match conditions at different times of the day which in turn reduces energy costs. 

Investing in renewable energy

The upfront costs associated with investing in renewable energy may can seem a little daunting but the annual returns and payback alone makes it worthwhile considering.  

LED lighting. Installing LED lighting to improve energy efficiency can shave between 55% and 90% off your electricity bill with a payback on your investment of around 2 years. They last up to 25 times longer than traditional lighting options and require minimal maintenance. A superior lighting scheme, LEDS improve working area visibility and with the ability to tailor spectrums, supports the welfare of livestock too. 

Solar PV. A sure way to guard against future rising electricity costs is to generate your own through solar PV. Despite the well-publicised cuts in the government Feed-in Tariff (FIT), a fall in wholesale price means that the financial gains made from switching to solar PV are still there. Annual returns of between 10% and 16% and a payback of around 7 years can still be expected. Battery storage options such as the Powerwall by Tesla bridge the gap between energy generation and demand nd increase self-consumption. They enable you to store the energy that a system produces during the day for use when you need it. 

Biomass. If your business is off-grid and dependent on LPG or oil to meet your heating needs, biomass is a cost effective, low carbon alternative which will save you money. Biomass boilers use renewable wood chip or pellets as fuel and can adequately meet your heating needs. This fuel is sourced from sustainable resources and although carbon is released during the combustion phase, this is recaptured by growing trees planted in place of those harvested for timber and biomass purposes. It is this release and capture that renders the process as carbon neutral. 

What are the next steps? 

We realise that investing in renewable energy saving options can seem a little daunting. Don't worry, help is on hand. Here at Noble Green Energy, we have carried out over 500 energy saving installs and are proud of our track record in creating real energy and financial savings for our customers.

We are happy to visit your premises to determine your current energy requirements and advise on the solutions that would be most suitable for you. To arrange a full, free energy saving audit on your business, please get in touch.